Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsWhy Pregnancy Isn’t PossibleEctopic PregnancyAbout HysterectomyPursuing Parenthood
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Why Pregnancy Isn’t Possible
Ectopic Pregnancy
About Hysterectomy
Pursuing Parenthood
Getting pregnant without a uterus isn’t possible as a general rule, because after ahysterectomyyouruterus(womb) has been removed. The uterus is where the egg implants after fertilization and is the organ that supports and nourishes the growingfetus.
On rare occasions, a fertilized egg can implant outside the uterus, leading to a medical emergency known as anectopic pregnancy. If not treated appropriately, an ectopic pregnancy can lead to ruptured tissue, internal bleeding, shock, and death.
This article describes why you can’t get pregnant without a uterus, and how ectopic pregnancy can occur after a hysterectomy. It explains when a hysterectomy is medically needed. It also presents some of the options available to people who want to start a family but can’t get pregnant themselves.
Verywell / Theresa Chiechi
Reasons Why You Can’t Get Pregnant Without a Uterus
The uterus is an organ in thefemale reproductive systemwhose primary function is to accommodate the implantation of a fertilized egg (ovum) and support the growth of the fetus until birth. Once implantation occurs, blood vessels develop to deliver uterine milk to the fetus from glands in the lining of the uterus.
These unique features are essential togestation(the process of development between conception and birth). While implantation of the egg can occur outside of the uterus, no other organ but the uterus can provide the nourishment—and space—for a fetus to develop to term.
A fetus that implants outside of the uterus, as with ectopic pregnancy, is not viable. In the same vein, when a uterus is removed, a person isinfertileand cannot get pregnant.
Ectopic pregnancy is the implantation of a fertilized egg outside of the uterus. It can occur after a hysterectomy if theovariesandfallopian tubeswere not removed as part of the procedure. The ovaries are organs that release eggs duringovulation, while the fallopian tubes deliver the eggs from the ovaries to the uterus.
In very rare cases, someone who has had a hysterectomy can experience an ectopic pregnancy if the egg isfertilizedafter ovulation and implants in a fallopian tube.
An ectopic pregnancy is a medical emergency. It is often not recognized until the growing fetus causes the fallopian tube to stretch and burst. This can lead to internal bleeding,shock,cardiac arrest, and death.
The risk of a rupture is arguably greater in people who have had a hysterectomy as they may assume they cannot get pregnant and misread the signs.
Symptoms
The signs and symptoms of an ectopic pregnancy tend to follow a similar pattern. If the implantation occurs in the fallopian tubes, there may be:
Clammy or pale skin, with an increasing heart rate, may be signs of shock due to the related blood loss.
Treatment
If bleeding has already occurred, surgery is needed to either remove the implanted fetus from the fallopian tube or to remove the fallopian tube with the implanted fetus.
Why Do Some People Need a Hysterectomy?
A hysterectomy is typically pursued when conservative treatments fail to relieve a uterine condition. In some cases, a hysterectomy is the only option.
Indications for a hysterectomy include:
If you want to have children but need a hysterectomy for medical reasons, it is still possible for you to start a family.
Egg Harvesting
One option is to undergoegg harvestingif your ovaries were preserved during the hysterectomy. This involves the insertion of a hollow-tipped needle into the vagina, which the provider uses to suction mature eggs out of one or both ovaries.
Surrogate Implantation
There are different types of surrogacy, some in which the surrogate has a genetic relationship to the fetus and, more commonly, others in which they do not (called gestational surrogacy). The laws on surrogacy will vary depending on where you live, but it’s an option for people who do not have a uterus that can support a pregnancy.
Adoption
Another option is to pursue adoption with an adoption agency. There are many benefits from doing so, and different types of adoption processes, like open adoption in which you may stay in contact with the child’s family.
Successful adoption can be a long process with significant costs. Careful research about your options is as important as ensuring that you’re ready to begin the adoption process.
Summary
You cannot get pregnant after a hysterectomy because your uterus (womb) will have been removed. You may still be able to ovulate, but the egg will eventually degrade on its own. On rare occasions, the egg might implant outside of the uterus and cause a potentially life-threatening situation called an ectopic pregnancy. An ectopic pregnancy is not viable.
3 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Fylstra DL.Ectopic pregnancy after hysterectomy may not be so uncommon: A case report and review of the literature.Case Rep Womens Health. 2015;7:8-11. doi:10.1016/j.crwh.2015.04.001Hendriks E, Rosenberg R, Prine L.Ectopic Pregnancy: Diagnosis and Management.Am Fam Physician. 2020 May 15;101(10):599-606. PMID: 32412215.American Cancer Society.Preserving fertility in women with cancer.Additional ReadingCenters for Disease Control and Prevention.Women’s reproductive health.U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office on Women’s Health.Hysterectomy.
3 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Fylstra DL.Ectopic pregnancy after hysterectomy may not be so uncommon: A case report and review of the literature.Case Rep Womens Health. 2015;7:8-11. doi:10.1016/j.crwh.2015.04.001Hendriks E, Rosenberg R, Prine L.Ectopic Pregnancy: Diagnosis and Management.Am Fam Physician. 2020 May 15;101(10):599-606. PMID: 32412215.American Cancer Society.Preserving fertility in women with cancer.Additional ReadingCenters for Disease Control and Prevention.Women’s reproductive health.U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office on Women’s Health.Hysterectomy.
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Fylstra DL.Ectopic pregnancy after hysterectomy may not be so uncommon: A case report and review of the literature.Case Rep Womens Health. 2015;7:8-11. doi:10.1016/j.crwh.2015.04.001Hendriks E, Rosenberg R, Prine L.Ectopic Pregnancy: Diagnosis and Management.Am Fam Physician. 2020 May 15;101(10):599-606. PMID: 32412215.American Cancer Society.Preserving fertility in women with cancer.
Fylstra DL.Ectopic pregnancy after hysterectomy may not be so uncommon: A case report and review of the literature.Case Rep Womens Health. 2015;7:8-11. doi:10.1016/j.crwh.2015.04.001
Hendriks E, Rosenberg R, Prine L.Ectopic Pregnancy: Diagnosis and Management.Am Fam Physician. 2020 May 15;101(10):599-606. PMID: 32412215.
American Cancer Society.Preserving fertility in women with cancer.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Women’s reproductive health.U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office on Women’s Health.Hysterectomy.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Women’s reproductive health.
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office on Women’s Health.Hysterectomy.
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